I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Yoga Practitioner.
But the greatest asset I provide is being a wholehearted human being first.
What does that mean?
That means I’m a mom, wife, sister, cousin, friend, and proud Filipino woman.
That means my life story has its own chapters of pain and loss—from childhood to marriage issues. But I have done, and continue to do the work, to become more embodied in who I am, allowing me to live out of my fullest self. Grounded. Free.
You are capable of having the same freedom; union can happen between you and your soul and your body.
Peace by piece.
More About Leslie
When I was 15 years old, I deeply struggled with my own body and found changing my eating habits and exercise gave me a sense of control and power. As a survivor of childhood trauma, I was still living in the environment that caused me harm and found my only solace to be my disordered eating. I finally found a sense of inner comfort that temporarily could quiet the big feelings inside. These feelings were not safe to feel, let alone express. Controlling my body gave me the control to not feel and lessened my anxiety. And I hated myself for not understanding what was happening. In fact I felt out of control, and alone. It was a very scary time.
This battle went on for over 10 years.
Then things began to shift. After many years of therapy, I was finally able to feel my anger and was able to set needed boundaries in relationships that were harmful. For me, my struggle with food and my body were my coping mechanism helping me make sense of my childhood trauma and the trauma within my ancestral lineages (race and colonalism).
It was not until many years later when I was introduced to Internal Family Systems and Yoga/Somatic Practices that I was able to heal internal wounds and finally gain a sense of inner safety. I was able to let go and move through the pain. My inner Bully shifted to an inner Mentor, my inner Trouble-maker moved into an inner Advocate.
My body has never felt freer and more alive.
This story is a microcosm of my values: focus, intention, and a deep desire to embody all of who I am.
This is what I want for you, too.
Work Experience & Training
Work Experience:
As a licensed social worker for 20 years:
Own and led private practice for 7 years- Peace by Piece Therapy
Created the trauma-informed yoga program for a addictions center- Coastal Oaks Recovery
Consulted and ran groups for addiction, eating disorders, body image difficulties, and trauma history- Magnolia Treatment Center, connected to The Meadows
Managed clinical oversight for a girls and boys residential home for teens with trauma
Court advocacy director for a domestic violence organization in Chicago- Between Friends
Worked as a community organizer in Chicago, advocating for support on a policy level to individuals and families- Action Now
Led as Director of junior high, high school, and transition programs at a therapy school for teens with high Anxiety, ASD, and co-morbid diagnoses. Supervised and managed therapists (OTs, Social Workers, Speech Therapists), and teachers, over 80 staff members- Giant Steps
Organized and taught ESL programs for adults living in Chicago who recently immigrated to the US
Training:
BS in Social Work, MSW in International Social Work and Community Development
Level 1 Internal Family Systems (IFS)- completed 2023
Level 2 Internal Family Systems (IFS)-completed 2024
Pain Reprossing Therapy (PRT)- completed 2025
200 Teacher Training at Return Yoga- completed 2020
6 year study of the Yoga Sutras by Karin Carlson completed 2026
Certified in Yoga for Trauma- completed 2019
Certified in Anxiety Treatment for Children and Adolescents-completed 2018
1:1 Yoga Therapy Mentorship Program by Melissa Shah since 2024
Attachment Theory